From ESA to working part time - will I get financial help still?

[carriewintermeadow]

I've been in the esa support group for nearly 2 years and at last feel I could work a little. I want to ease myself back in instead of getting stressed and having a breakdown. A job has come up i want to do, it would be a start up and freelance, probably very low income at first, hopefully building up to a lot more.

Does anyone know what happens to benefits? Can I work a limited number of hours whilst on ESA or would I need to claim differently? If so are they likely to insist I look for full time work?

You can still get ESA and do 'permitted work' which needs to be approved by the DWP I think. Or if you go back to work then if n a low income you may be eligible to claim working tax credits. If you get PIP then you can work just 16 hours and get working tax credits. Best way to ease back into work is to do permitted work though.

I don't qualify for PIP.

So do I need to ring the dwp when I start to let them know?

Many years ago i claimed jsa & worked under 16 hours as this was the max number of hours allowed.

However they took so much off of my wages. So i wasnt financially better off.

Could you try volunteering part time & building up your hours with that first?

Sorry forgot to answer your question. Yes you need to inform them & every so often (every month i think) you need to take in wage slips.

Are you in the support group of Esa?

Yes I'm in the support group.

I don't want to stay on ESA for ever and a job has come up that I'd really like to do. I've applied to volunteer weeks ago but still haven't heard anything back apart from an acknowledgement.

You can work up to 16 hours or earn £120 per week whilst on ESA - whichever comes first. You need to fill in a form and send it to the job centre to notify of your intention to start work - the DWP will then write back to confirm your benefit.

Hope it goes well OP

Thanks

Do you know if the form is available online?

Yes it's called the 'Permitted Work Form' - you can google for it.

You're a .. thank you.

Be interested to know how you get on. I’m in the work related ESA group and wanted to see whether I might be able to manage returning back to work, using permitted work, with the pain I’m in. Have you applied already and how long did it take to get a response? Thanks